Nerve blocker injections..are they safe???
 

My pm dr wants to give me nerve blocker injections. I have chronic pain from a cervical fusion that is not healing. If I didn't feel the pain I would have never known it wasn't healing and went on with life. The pain is how I found out it isn't healing or at least healing very slowly. My dr has already given me three the limit sterroid shots in my shoulder which is injured, I am also diabetic type 2 and have high blood pressure, alot of numbness in arms and hands and severe pain in neck and shoulders. Is this safe for me, I have heard bad things about nerve blockers and I am supposed to get this done on the 19th thinking about cancelling the appt and finding out more info. I don't want anymore permanent damage than I have already aquired from this injury. Any input would be most helpful...thank you

Hi ~ Steroids are HARD on the body, particularly on the bones. According to all the medical journals I've read, if you haven't gotten relief from the FIRST injection, do NOT get any more. Besides, these are just a "bandaid" fix -- they don't "cure" anything. The pain WILL return after the injection wears off. Alot depends on the length of time that you get relief. I've heard of people getting relief from one week to one year. They NEVER worked for me. Doctors like to suggest them because they get paid anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500 just for GIVING you the injection! :eek:

These injections should be done under fluroscopy too. That way the doc knows that he's putting the injection EXACTLY where it needs to go. Some doctors used to give them just by "feeling" the area -- that's dangerous.

Also, anything that it injected in the spinal space can cause arachnoiditis, which is a very painful, incurable disease. It is the inflammation of the arachnoid space in the spine. They have found no way to get rid of it.

Best of luck & if you do get the injection, I hope it works for you. God bless. Hugs, Lee

I had a ton of injections, none of which helped. My PM doctor then "pushed" a Spinal Cord Stimulator on me to "help with the pain". Well, the damn thing was implanted twice - the first attempt was a total flop, the battery moved so much my remote wouldn't communicate with it and the leads in my spine migrated. The second atttempt was even worse. They had to surgically place a paddle in my epideral space of my spine, meaning they had to chisel away some of the vertabra to get it to stay in place.

Since then, I have attempted laser accupuncture (can't have traditional, as I have an allergy to metals) and IV laser. My PM doctor that attempted the accupuncture prescribed an H-Wave unit which is like a TENS unit, but suppose to be more advanced. I love my H-Wave, the only problem is the unit needs to be charged quite frequently, and cannot be used while being charged.

Good luck on your care, do a lot of research. If you find you want to try the injections, I would stop if the second one doesn't work.

Nice to meet you!!
 

slimshady,

Happy to see you have come to be with us. As you can tell there are great and caring friends here to assist you, just let us know if we can be of any help. Our shoulders are here for support in many ways. Please keep us up to date on your condition & needs.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene :hug:

Hard choices.
 

I think it's a good idea to find out all you can--get ALL your questions answered to your satisfaction--before they go shooting steroids into your shoulder. Remember, it's your body--not theirs--so forget the cavelier godlike voice of the medicos: This is your REAL life, slimshady.

Here are a couple of forum links. You can find others using the Search link above.
Treatments: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum72.html
Chronic pain: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum10.html

Roam around, introduce yourself, ask questions. You'll find many who have faced your dilemma.

You have a home base here for info & support & :hug::hug::hug:s. Hope you make yourself comfy. Let us know how it goes Tuesday, whatever you decide.

Remember, please, that IT'S YOUR BODY. You have only one. :hug:

[I can understand..... Five years a go I went for nerve injections in my back as well as physical therapy. The first shot gave me no relief so I did not have shots 2 and 3. Finally had S4 and S5 fused together. Was that the right choice? Could no longer stand straight and was in constant pain.... so I think I made the right choice. The pain in my lower back has never totally gone, because the surgeon noted others areas that were showing slippage. If your first injection gives you limited relief you may want to ask your doctor if it would benefit you have. Thre injections are expensive, hope your insurance coverage is good.